Why Is PDRM Getting Worst?

Everyone of us are asking, why is the Polis Di Raja Malaysia (PDRM) getting worst and the crime rates are even on the rise? Everyone of us are now demanding the explanations from the government and the many members of the PDRM high command. In fact, the PDRM top officials manning the high command should also ask themselves now. Even the home affairs minister should also ask why the PDRM's performance had worsen?

Many PDRM officials and personnel had instead blamed our people for being anti-police and listening to much to "rumor mongers" who are out to tarnish the PDRM's image. First of all, why do we want to be anti-police and listening to rumors on the bad side of the PDRM? Reports and evidence had already proven that the entire PDRM is really in a bad shape. The many deaths that the PDRM personnel had caused for decades. We do not have to remind the people about the total numbers. Everyone of us remember.

Even the brutality (or should we say violence) as demonstrated by PDRM personnel against supporters of the Opposition parties and civil rights groups who are merely demanding for more democratic space and justice for our people.

The PDRM oppression onto the political and civil dissent comes with regimental size of men but when it comes to combating the real criminals out there who are terrorizing the lives of our people, they are nowhere to be seen. Even PDRM had failed to get rid of the so-called "mat rempits" (a band of crack and violent motorcycle gangsters) until today. Despite PDRM and home affairs ministry showing that the crime rates in our nation had "gone down", the crimes out there are terrorizing our people almost everyday.

Our people now are living in fear, housing estates are starting to initiate gated community within their residential areas, housing developers are now starting off their projects by offering a well-established gated community for their customers as well. Private security companies are also beginning to offer their service to residential areas at "competitive" and "reasonable" rates.

What is making our people even more frustrating are business and corporate entities are being given the license by PDRM to establish their own Polis Bantuan units within their companies, like Bank Simpanan Nasional, Telekom Malaysia, Tenaga Nasional, Petronas, Pos Malaysia, Astro, PLUS, FELDA, Genting Highlands Berhad, Sime Darby Bhd, DRB-Hicom, Sunway Bhd, Austin Heights Sdn Bhd, Sunrise Berhad, Ann Joo Steel Berhad, Yayasan Sarawak and many more. Did all these so-called Polis Bantuan units really help our people in crime prevention and fighting them as well? No, none at all. These Polis Bantuan units merely serve the security needs and interests of all those business and corporate entities.

But when some municipal councils in Selangor had made several applications to PDRM to obtain a license to establish their Polis Bantuan units in order to help our people in crime prevention, these applications were rejected repeatedly by PDRM, reasoning that the crime rates in their areas of responsibilities (of the municipal councils) has been "reduced". What a lame excuse indeed.

To all the members of the PDRM high command, and the home affairs minister as well, are they really listening to our people's grievances? To the inspector-general of police (IGP) and his deputy, the negative public perception onto PDRM is not because of the people, it is because the PDRM has no direction at all. The PDRM has been given wrong priorities. That is why most of the PDRM personnel are demoralized to the fact that many of them had resorted to corruption, power abuse and mismanagement, of which had further damaged the reputation of the entire force.

The PDRM high command and the home affairs ministry must also accept the facts that by establishing the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), would not mean that every policemen out there will be taken in for massive public scrutiny, criticism and condemnation. The IPCMC is not an anti-police institution aimed at ensuring the destruction of PDRM. The IPCMC is aimed at getting rid of those minority bad apples within the force who are tarnishing the entire force, its major aim is to bring about the good name of the force and transform them into a real professional law enforcement subject that will gain the respect and trust of our people.

To the PDRM again, accept the fact that your entire organization and structure are at its weakest point now and your entire command requires a total revamp. If you want our people to truly respect the force with a salute, then you must be humble enough to admit the weakness within the force and be ready for change. There is no point of giving a pay rise and automatic promotion system based on seniority (years of service) to bring up the moral within the force but instead such moves would only lower the standards and qualities of the force, especially in its leadership and command structure.

And to the federal government, do not make use of the PDRM for your own political ends. By doing such, you are turning the PDRM into a lowest grade of law enforcers with no will of discharging the very sacred responsibilities to the public, that is ensuring the safety, security of our people and to prevent crimes from taking place.